The art of photography may be a relatively new phenomenon,
but it had none the less inspired certain superstitious beliefs that are now
well entrenched. Perhaps the most familiar is the belief among many people in
technologically undeveloped parts of the world that it is extremely bad luck to
allow someone to take their photograph (a taboo that previously applied to
hand-drawn portraits also). The reasoning is that the image of a person
contains something of their life-force, so anyone who obtains a photographic
likeness also acquires a degree of influence over their soul.

Other superstitions include the more or less redundant
notion that engage couples should decline to have their photograph taken
together, as this threatens their chances of eventually being married. It has
also been suggested that it is reckless to be photographed with an animal,
which may be a witch in disguise. Neither should people be grouped in threes
for a photograph, as the middle one is thereby placed under sentence of death.
Sports players, furthermore, have been known to refuse to have their team
photograph taken until after the match in the belief that otherwise they will
prejudice their luck on the field.

In the Netherlands,
motorists fix photographs of their lovers on the dashboard of their cars to
protect them from accidents. Many people who otherwise see no magic in the
science of photography will baulk at the prospect of destroying a photograph of
someone who is still alive.

To deliver a curse against someone, the simplest procedure
is to turn a photograph of them to the wall or turn it upside down (or, even
better, to do both).

Check your pictures in the house, maybe someone has put a curse on you. *giggles*

Make your Halloween even more spooktacular by grabbing your copy of Reaping Me Softly: